Bhubaneswar, Feb 22: For the first time, the Odisha Forest Department has fitted a radio collar on an elephant to track its movements, with plans to extend this initiative to more pachyderms across the state for enhanced care and safety.

Following reports of a tusker being shot by unidentified poachers in Chendipada forest on February 13, the elephant underwent treatment and was released into Satkosia forest on Wednesday. The Forest Department decided to affix a radio collar to closely monitor the elephant's movements as its wounds healed.

Vivek Kumar, Angul Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), stated that the elephant's movements would be closely monitored until it fully recuperates. Sushant Nand, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), highlighted that this marks the first instance in the state of a radio collar being used on an elephant.

The injured elephant, which migrated from the Ashtamalli forest area to Chendipada forest, displayed signs of a deep forehead wound and severe bleeding three days later. Despite efforts by a medical team from Satkosia, tranquilizing the elephant proved challenging. Eventually, a team led by the DFO successfully tranquilized the elephant near Chendipada Sapoisahi.

Veterinarians from Nandankanan, Kapilas in Dhenkanal, and Satkosia treated the elephant, which showed improvement after five days, with its wounds drying up. The elephant was released around 5:30 pm on Wednesday, albeit not fully recovered, prompting the attachment of a radio collar to monitor its movements closely.

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